God gave them everything for their pleasure and needs. But God had a warning for Adam (before there was a Mrs. Original to sway him otherwise), “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden — except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (Gen. 2:16-17 NLT)

One day, the sneaky serpent slithered through the grass into the shade of the no-no tree, crept up close to Eve, and, with his hissing whispers, enticed her, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Gen. 3:1 NLT)

She countered, stating all that she could have and couldn’t have, adding her own touch to God’s Word. But “She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her.” (Gen. 3:6a NLT) She focused on the one thing she didn’t have, succumbing to and eating of the serpent’s lie.
How many times are we like Mrs. Original, being outrageously blessed, having so much for which we should be thankful, and yet, like Eve, we forget it all and focus on the negative?

We become dissatisfied with what we have or don’t have or comparing ourselves with others, and we listen to the whispers of the enemy:You aren’t good enough or talented enough. You don’t have a nice enough house or good enough job. Your kids aren’t as smart as the neighbor’s kids. Your husband isn’t as attentive as your best friend’s husband. You’re not as pretty or as thin as that model. And we continue to fall for the enemy’s lies!

You ARE enough and you HAVE enough in Christ!

We allow social media to feed us negative thoughts and attitudes, because we see only Photoshopped lives. Cut and paste. The best stuff. We think the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence but it’s just that someone spray painted the grass green! We don’t see the rest of the story, the hurt and anguish that go on in others’ lives behind closed doors.
What are we gulping down from social media that shapes our attitudes? Do we go as far as Eve, succumbing to temptation because we focus on what we can’t have or on comparing ourselves with others?
Do you have an Eve attitude? If so, feed yourself some truths. Feed on God’s Word. Tell yourself that the Lord delights in you with gladness and rejoices over you with joyful songs. (Ps. 149:4 NLT, Zeph. 3:17 NLT) That He delights in your beauty and rejoices over you as His bride. (Ps. 45:11 NLT, Is. 62:5b NKJV)

Therefore, “feed on [God’s] faithfulness.” (Ps. 37:3 NKJV) Because then, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 TLB)
What are you feeding on?

Do you ever wonder to yourself: How do others see me?Am I blocking the Son, God’s Light, from reaching others? Do I cast a shadow, becoming a stumbling block to them?

If you’ve been a reader of my blog for any amount of time, you know I have culled numerous ideas from the old TV series M*A*S*H. Another light bulb went on the other night as I watched an episode. The beginning went like this:

Father Mulcahy approached Col. Henry Blake from behind as Henry is sprawled out sunning himself, using boards wrapped in tinfoil to reflect the sun onto his face. The priest’s presence cast a shadow over Henry and blocked the light.

Father to Henry: Improving the outer man, I see.
Henry: ’Scuse me, Father, but you’re blocking the sun.
Father: Oh, well. Let there be light!

I thought: Am I the reflection of the Light of the Son? Or do I block the Light, casting a shadow over others, causing them to stumble?

The opposite is also true: that which you starve will shrivel and die.

That penetrates deep within my heart. I wonder: Am I feeding upon those things so I can be a reflection of the Son? Or am I starving them so that the Light is shriveling?

I want to feed upon God’s Word and His will, and obey them, to keep myself in the Lord’s light, where “there is never the slightest variation or shadow of inconsistency.” (James 1:17 HCSB)

If that is your desire as well, will this be your prayer, as it is mine?

Oh, Lord, my heart’s desire is to be a reflection of the Light of Your Son. May I feed upon the nourishment of Your Word and Your will that I might bear all things humbly. Follow in Your footsteps daily. Love others wholly. Wait patiently for Your answers to my heart’s pleas. Serve You wholeheartedly. May I never be a stumbling block to others. May I be so filled with Your Light others will take notice and be drawn to You. And may I never block Your Son! Amen!

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